Bangladesh remembers martyrs on 46th Independence Day

Dhaka, March 26 (IANS) Bangladesh paid homage to three million martyrs of its 1971 Liberation War, ahead of the 46th Independence and National Day celebrations on Sunday.

On March 26, 1971, Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at a rally called for Bangladesh's independence following the Pakistani occupation forces' crackdown on unarmed Bengalis on the midnight of March 25.

After the nine-month Liberation War with the supreme sacrifices of three million people, Bangladesh achieved its Independence on December 16, 1971, assisted by India.

President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina paid their tributes to the martyrs of the Liberation War by placing wreaths at the National Memorial on Sunday morning, the Daily Star here reported.

After placing the wreaths, the President and the Prime Minister observed silence for two minutes as a mark of respect to the memories of the martyrs.

A smartly turned-out contingent drawn from the Bangladesh Army, Navy and Air Force presented a national salute on the occasion, while the buglers sounded the last post.

Bangladesh Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, ministers, advisers, mayors of Dhaka North and South City Corporations, parliament members, chiefs of the three services, freedom fighters, foreign diplomats and high civil and military officials were present on the occasion.

Later, flanked by senior leaders of the party, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who is also the President of the ruling Bangladesh Awami League, laid another wreath at the National Memorial on behalf of her party.